Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurfkiro’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Sunsurfkiro’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; medium-sized white-colored flowers with yellow green-colored venation; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNSURFKIRO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunsurfkiro’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new upright and outwardly spreading Petunia plants with freely branching habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in April, 2005 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PF104-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 02916, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunsurfkiro’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunsurfkiro’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Medium-sized white-colored flowers with yellow green-colored         venation.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Petal apices of plants of the new Petunia are acute whereas         petal apices of plants of the female parent selection are         rounded.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have white-colored flowers.     -   3. Petal apices of plants of the new Petunia are acute whereas         petal apices of plants of the male parent selection are rounded.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of the Petunia ‘KEIyeul’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,968. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Petunia and ‘KEIyeul’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were not as trailing and broad as         plants of ‘KEIyeul’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had shorter internodes than plants         of ‘KEIyeul’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller leaves than plants of         ‘KEIyeul’.     -   4. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘KEIyeul’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunsurfkiro’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunsurfkiro’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under commercial practices. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Sunsurfkiro’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PF104-1, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 02916, not             patented. -   PROPAGATION:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at temperatures of             15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading             plant habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral             branches developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral             branch development; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18.9 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 39.5 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 18.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137C; venation, close to 145B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B; venation,             close to 145B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 6.2 mm. Diameter: About 3.1 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 31 open flowers per plant; flowers face upright to             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Petunia initiate and develop flowers about three to             four weeks after planting; long flowering period; flowering             commences naturally during the spring and plants flower             continuously throughout the summer until late autumn in             Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.7 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 4.3 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 10.7 mm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 3 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 3.6 cm.             Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Color: Close to N144D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 2.5 cm. Petal width: About 2.5 cm. Petal shape:             Spatulate. Petal apex: Acute. Petal margin: Entire. Petal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat             texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color:             Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to NN155A;             mid-vein, close to N144A; lateral venation, close to 151C to             151D. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 150D.             Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155A;             mid-vein, close to N144A; lateral venation, close to 151C to             151D. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 4D.             Throat: Close to 7A to 7C. Tube: Close to 4C to 4D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             1.1 cm. Sepal width: About 3.2 mm. Sepal shape: Elliptic.             Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, immature and             mature, upper surface: Close to 137D. Color, immature and             mature, lower surface: Close to 144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.9 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Stamen length: About 2.1 cm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 2.6 mm by 2.1 mm. Anther             color: Close to 12D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 13D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 2.2 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma             shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to             143B. Ovary color: Close to 144A. Seeds/fruits: Seed and             fruit development have not been observed on plants of the             new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia     plants. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurfkiro’ as illustrated and described. 